Convicted Penn State Coach Child Sex Abuse Offender Wants New Trial

CENTRE COUNTY, PA — Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky wants a new trial more than a decade after being convicted on child sex abuse charges.

An appeal recently filed in Centre County Common Pleas Court alleges that prosecutorial misconduct occured and that prosecutors coached two of Sandusky's accusers to fabricate claims of abuse.

Sandusky, 81, was convicted in 2012 on 45 counts of child sexual abuse and is incarcerated at the State Correctional Institution Laurel Highlands. Currently, his earliest possible release date is in 2042.

His appeal claims the prosecution failed to disclose evolving allegations from accusers; that new evidence suggests coaching of accusers and financial incentives for false allegations and that prior decisions are undermined by the new evidence.

Sandusky also claims his prior counsel failed to present critical evidence and challenge the statute of limitations.

The sexual predator scandal led to the downfall of legendary Penn State coach Joe Paterno, who had Sandusky on his staff for more than two decades. Paterno was fired as a result of the charges against Sandusky and died a short time later.